Dr. Scott Jensen, a former Republican Minnesota state senator, has dropped his bid to be the next governor of Minnesota and will now run for state auditor. Jensen’s announcement sets up a GOP clash between him and State Rep. Elliott Engen.
One of Minnesota’s lesser-known political offices, the state auditor audits the finances of local governments across Minnesota such as cities, counties, and school districts. The current occupant, DFLer Julie Blaha, chose not to seek a third term last year.
“We have excellent candidates running for governor, and I am confident that one of my colleagues will be well positioned to win in November,” Jensen said of the GOP candidates for governor. “That’s why I’m shifting my focus.”
A medical doctor, Jensen said other talented individuals are prepared to be governor, but he is ready to “be the person who opens up the hood and looks at what the engine of our government is doing, and not doing, and fix it.”
In recent years, Minnesota has endured a seemingly unending fraud saga in which billions of dollars have been stolen from state-run, Medicaid-funded programs, according to federal prosecutors. The issue has become perhaps the biggest political topic in the state.
Touting his experience as a doctor, state senator, and “chairman of the audit section of a billion-dollar bank,” Jensen said, “we don’t need more massive fraud that has demonized our state and made us the laughingstock of the nation. We need a watchdog.”
While the state auditor audits local governments, it cannot audit state programs that have seen widespread fraud. Only the Office of the Legislative Auditor can audit those programs. Nevertheless, candidates for state auditor have leaned hard on anti-fraud messaging.
“It’s time to declare war on waste and fraud and abuse,” Jensen said. “It’s time to resurrect good government. It’s time to take our Minnesota back. It’s time to protect your paycheck.”
Jensen’s departure from the gubernatorial race, and his entrance to the state auditor race, is a big shake-up in Minnesota’s Republican politics.
At present, the field of GOP governor candidates is crowded, but the leading contenders for the Republican nomination are House Speaker Lisa Demuth, businessman Kendall Qualls, and MyPillow founder Mike Lindell.
Prior to today, there were only two GOP candidates for state auditor: State Rep. Elliott Engen and Braham Mayor Nate George. Engen had been considered the frontrunner considering his higher name-ID and experience in state government.
Engen’s most recent campaign finance report showed that he raised $15,000 through the end of 2025. At the end of last year, Engen had $7,000 in cash on hand.
Meanwhile, Jensen’s gubernatorial campaign raised $383,000 through the end of 2025 and had more than $224,000 in cash on hand at the time. Jensen has a large fundraising network and will be able to transfer some of those funds to his new campaign.
Dan Wolgamott, the leading DFL candidate for state auditor, had raised $124,000 and had $66,000 in cash on hand at the end of 2025.
In addition to having a large fundraising network, Jensen also has high name-ID from his 2022 campaign for governor. That year, Jensen won the GOP endorsement and nomination for governor. However, he lost the general election to DFL Gov. Tim Walz by 8 points.
Many believe Jensen ran a poor campaign in 2022 and his place at the top of the ticket dragged down other Republican candidates who could have otherwise won races for state legislature, attorney general, and state auditor.
That year, Blaha was reelected as state auditor by less than half a point (8,435 votes).
Reacting to Jensen’s entrance to the state auditor race, Engen said, “Perennial losers attempting to maintain political relevance isn’t public service. It’s desperation.”
Luke Sprinkel
Luke Sprinkel previously worked as a Legislative Assistant at the Minnesota House of Representatives. He grew up as a Missionary Kid (MK) living in England, Thailand, Tanzania, and the Middle East. Luke graduated from Regent University in 2018.
